Digital Camera for our Paris trip.
 

Need help in trying to decide what digital camera to buy. I don't know if we should buy a slr or a point and shoot. I've been on the web site dpreview.com. But am still wondering. Thought about the Sony dsc-v1 or maybe the canon powershot s50. Thanks for any help. jobie

We do a great deal of traveling and I am very weary of lugging around heavy 35mm film camera and all their accessories. So I decided to switch to digital. The advantages have been amazing, far exceeding my hopes.

I bought a Canon S400. It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes, weighs 6 ounces, and slips into my pocket. Takes wonderful photos under all kinds of lighting, requires no film (I bought an extra exposure card and a spare rechargeable battery), and can see what I have taken immediately. I'm very pleased with all results. Yes, if you wish, you can buy a cheaper camera with fewer megapixels, but the choice is yours.

Having lugged around a Leica, then a Canon SLR, and Olympus point-and-shoot film camera, I feel positively liberated with the S400.

Hi jobie,

>...don't know if we should buy a slr or a point and shoot..<

If you can't decide,you are a point and shoot person.

I have a Canon A60 that I like very much.

Hi jobie, ah the power of digital. It IS liberating. My Olympus all weather arrived just before departing on recent trip. The tiny ones are great! I quit carrying a purse by the 3rd day, and the camera fits wonderfully in a pocket. Also, purchased the high sensity card, and have 350+ photos on the one card. Just my opinion.

i agree with usnr. we also just bought a s400 and it is an amazing piece. we also got the 256mb chip (it came with a 32mb chip). we put 200 pictures on it and had room for more. make sure to bring a power converter to charge the battery.

If money is no major object (and if you are considering the Canon S50 you are not the bargain shopper) I would say as Ira, go for a point-and-shoot. But the question then is if you should buy a camera with manual options and possible a large zoom lens like the Canon A80 or the Olympus Ultra Zoom, or a tiny camera with mostly automatic controles like the Canon S400. There are good arguments for both types, though if you are a novice photographer and plan to stay that way I would go for the small fully automatic ones.

Cobos

We use the small Canon and it works great. Easy to carry in pocket or purse so we use it more than lugging around the big cameras of the past. Be sure to get at least one spare battery and one spare memory card and you will be set.

An slr will require a bit more dedication on your part, but will produce far superior results.

That said, the little point and shoots are pretty amazing and are quite capable.

I currently have a Canon S45, which is the model preceeding the S50, and I've been satisfied with that.

If I had it to do over, (and I sill might do it over) I'd get an Olympus C5050. It's a bit larger than the pocket models, but the color it produces reminds me of Kodachrome film, and not the plastic-like colors that most small digitals deliver.

Alternatively, film is still a good choice for lots of people.

In any case, go to the camera shop and handle the cameras. Look at the controls and see if they make sense to you. In my opinion, these little marvels have too many functions that are useless to most users...a lot of confusing menus to deal with. That's why I consider film cameras to be a better choice for folks who aren't that computer savvy.

The Sony is indeed a nice camera, but at 8MP you'll need plenty of storage cards, or a means of storing your shots.

Have a great time in Paris.

http://www.jimtardio.com